Disclaimer: I don't own the Star Wars universe. Disney does and they have the right to do whatever they want with this.
PROLOG
THE JEDI TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBER – 22BBY
Three persons were standing in the High Council Chamber. They were Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Grand Master Yoda. The sun was setting at the distant Courscant horizon.
"Do you believe what count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the senate? It doesn´t feel right." Obi-Wan said.
"Joined the dark side Dooku has" answered Yoda and added a growl. "Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."
"Nevertheless," Master Windu said "i feel we should keep a closer eye on the senate."
"I, agree." answered Yoda and the three Masters fell silent for a while, each one deep in his own thoughts.
THE JEDI TEMPLE – GREAT HALL
Jedi Master Tokasi Ben-Kai wandered slowly in the Jedi Temple deep in contemplation, hands behind his back. Every now and then he stopped and looked around as if it was the first time he really saw the temple from the inside and he tried to memorize every detail of the ancient building. Finally, he stopped and once again looked around and up towards the ceiling high above his head. His eyes then looked at the large statues of ancient Jedi Masters and wandered along the line of pillars to finally stop at one of the many coloured windows who gave the hall its pleasant light. He sighed and walked to one of the many stone benches placed along the walls of the Great Hall. There he sat himself down to meditate.
After some time he felt a familiar presence in the Force and opened his eyes, only to stare into the face of a young woman.
"Master Ben-Kai." she said, bowing apologetic. "Forgive me, I did not mean to disturb you." Tokasi smiled and answered while standing up.
"You didn't. It was the will of the Force who brought you here at this very moment," and then he returned her courtesy and bowed to her adding "Jedi Knight Jorani." The young woman blushed but the pride and joy in her smile could not be hidden.
"Thank you Master." she said. "I came to thank you for your wise teachings under all those years as your Padawan learner. Without your patience i would never have passed the Trials."
Tokasi chuckled a bit and said "But of course you would have." Then he looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "But then, Master Yoda would not have given you such an approving growl." Jorani laughed at the memory. The green little Jedi Master had indeed nodded, grunted and wiggled his ears in a way clearly showing his appreciation of her performance.
"Maly, my dear friend and former Padawan." he continued and put both his hands on her shoulders. "Jedi Knight Maly Jorani."
She smiled another smile, bursting with joy and pride over her new rank in the order.
"I want you to know how very pleased i am over your progress. It has been a true honour having you as my Padawan learner and i know you will be a very valuable Jedi."
He put his hands down to his sides and bowed deeply to her and said "You make me very proud."
She looked at him with a strange expression and for a moment he thought she would burst into tears right in front of him. But instead she hugged him in a rarely seen expression of emotions and said
"Thank You Master. Thank You for everything." Then she released him, bowed quickly and turned to walk away.
"Grasshopper!" He had called her by the nickname he had used when she was a little girl, a very long time ago it seemed to him. His voice and the name stopped her and she turned to face him again.
"Yes Master?" He drew his breath when he in the young woman before him saw the little girl he accepted as Padawan that day so many years ago.
He collected himself quickly and continued.
"Maly, i want you to know..." he could not continue.
"Know what Master?" He looked her straight in the eyes and he was once again the Master teaching his student.
"Take care of yourself Maly and don't let the horrors of war numb your senses and grumble your values." Then he shook his head. The Master was gone and the student as well. She was a Knight now. "May the Force be with You."
She smiled and answered "And with You Master." Then she turned around and walked away.
He looked after her, wondering. How will this war change you my young friend? So proud are you now and your ideals are carved in stone with the Force itself. Will the daily killing, the monotonous ending of other lives, the horrors, the suffering, will the war grind down your senses and make cruelties righteous for a higher purpose? Will you stumble on the very edge of the abyss, looking down to the dark side?
Jedi Master Tokasi Ben-Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The time had come. He turned and walked towards the turbo lifts leading to the Council Camber.
THE JEDI TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBER
"Where is your apprentice?" Master Windu asked.
"On his way to Naboo. Escorting senator Amidala home." Kenobi answered. "I have to admit" Kenobi continued "that without the clones it would not have been a victory."
"Victory?" Master Yoda blurted out. "Victory, you say?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Master Obi-Wan, not victory". He wrinkled his nose and as if talking to himself he continued. "The shroud of the dark side has fallen." Then he turned his eyes upward at his two friends and gave words to what they all were thinking. "Begun the clone war, has."
The three Jedi Masters stood silent, each one deep in his own thoughts when the sound of an approaching turbo lift brought all of them back to the here and now.
Master Yoda smiled and said "A matter of great importance i believe, Master Ben-Kai with us, wish to speak." In the next moment, the turbo lift doors hissed open and Tokasi Ben-Kai entered the Council Chamber.
"Masters." he said and bowed to all three of them.
"Tokasi!" Obi-Wan answered and joy returned to his face as he continued. "Congratulations! Your Padawan performed excellent in the Trials."
"Yes, very good indeed." Yoda commented. Tokasi bowed his head slightly.
Thank you Masters. Jorani will be a valuable Jedi."
Then Windu asked "And now when you no longer have an apprentice, will you go through with your plans?" Tokasi nodded.
"Yes Masters. I have come so i can leave the order."
"You just can't be serious Tokasi." Obi-Wan said. "How can you leave us now when the republic is in need of every Jedi there is? And," he continues, pointing at Tokasi "You were just about to get a seat in the Council."
Tokasi looked at the other and said "Obi-Wan, my old friend. We have already gone through this discussion." Obi-Wan sighed and put his arms out in resignation.
"I know, i know. You don't approve the Jedi leading the Clone Troopers in battle." Tokasi nodded.
"That is right. I don't believe it is the will of the Force for the Jedi to enter the battlefield on a scale that has not been seen since the Seventh Battle of Ruusan a thousand years ago."
"You can't mean that." Obi-Wan said doubtful. "The Jedi is the best military commanders in the whole republic!" Tokasi nodded again.
"That is also right, Obi-Wan, but the Jedi are not militaries. A Jedi uses the Force only for defence. Never to attack."
"But the republic is under attack. We must defend democracy!" Obi-Wan said.
"Again, you are right." Tokasi answered with patience. "For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights have been the guardians of peace and justice in the Republic. But we can only protect the Republic, not fight a war for it."
Obi-Wan was just about to make another argument when Tokasi interrupted "And so not to risk a schism within the order, or within the council as you just pointed out, i choose to leave the order entirely. But don't worry. I will not interfere."
"Unfortunate this is" Master Yoda said "but found something greater than the Force, master Ben-Kai has."
"Hmpf." Obi-One made a face. "What could be more important than the republic or greater than the Force?"
"Love, Master Obi-Wan." Windu laughed. "Our dear friend has fallen himself neck deep in love! All this talk about believes and principals are just tricks and smokescreens so he can run away to some lady out there with his honour and dignity intact." The great Jedi Master Tokasi Ben-Kai laughed and blushed slightly.
"I choose the path of no comments in this matter."
"Seriously." Windu continued after a while. "Does she know who or what you really are?" Ben-Kai shook his head.
"No Master. She will never know."
"Never, you say, mmh?" Yoda chuckled suddenly and pointed his stick at Ben-Kai. "Leave the order, a Jedi might. Leave the Force, a Jedi cannot. Show your destiny, it will, but more unexpected its ways." He lowered his stick and chuckled again. The three humans looked at each other. Master Yoda still had the ability to outwit them all.
"Shall we begin?" Windu then said, took out his lightsaber and ignited it. Ben-Kai then took out his own sword and with the Force he let it float in the air in front of him.
Master Windu spoke first. "Who are you?" he asked in a voice that was all serious.
"I am Tokasi Ben-Kai, master of the Jedi Order." Tokasi answered.
"What is your request to the Jedi council and the Grand Master?" master Windu asked again.
"I wish to leave the Jedi order and be released of my vows." answered Tokasi.
"Then swear, by the Force itself that you will not reveal any knowledge you have about the order to anyone outside the order."
"I swear." Tokasi answered.
"Swear," Windu continued "by the Force itself, that you will not bear arms against any knight or master of this order."
"I swear." Tokasi answered again.
"And Swear, by the Force itself that you will not interfere in the concerns of this order."
"I Swear." Tokasi answered a third time.
"Then in front of the Grand Master and in the presence of a fellow member of the Jedi High Council as my witness, you are released from the vows of this order." And with a swift stroke with his blade he cut Tokasis floating lightsaber in two.
"Your sword is broken." master Windu ended. "It is done."
Tokasi bowed deeply. "Thank You Masters." Master Windu took Tokasis hand and shook it well.
"Take care, old friend."
"I will do my best." Tokasi answered and embraced the other.
"Anakin will be disappointed." master Kenobi said and gave Tokasi a big hug. "He really wants that rematch."
"Well," Tokasi laughed. "Technically i only swore not to bear arms against knights and masters. Padawans on the other hand..." Obi-Wan laughed as well and said he would certainly not tell him that. Then Tokasi turned to Master Yoda.
"Grand Master." Tokasi said and bowed deeply. "Thank you for everything." The short Jedi Master wiggled his ears and chuckled.
"Thank me yet, you should not." and he pointed his stick at Tokasi like before. "Long is the path you have chosen. Not always easy to follow, you will find it."
then he lowered his stick and looked down at the floor. "But happy, you will be."
Tokasi bowed once more. "Farwell my friends, and may the Force be with you."
"And with you." master Windu answered in return, bowing with master Kenobi.
CHAPTER 1
THE IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER NEMESIS - MAIN BRIDGE – 11BBY
The distinctive shape of an Imperial Star Destroyer along with a swarm of TIE fighters was the vision of the Galactic Empire. The mere sight of a Star Destroyer exiting from hyperspace could make the most ruthless pirate or seasoned veteran fighter tremble with fear and make them silently wish they never went against the interests of the Empire. It was a dreadful firepower assembled in the arrow shaped vessel and it could vaporize entire continents from orbit. With a skilful commander a single Star Destroyer could be a powerful force in an entire solar system. The pressure of its commanding officer was enormous and that was one of the reasons only the very best imperial officers finally ever made it to that post.
One of these chosen ones was Sitrod Natane, Captain of the Imperial-I class Star Destroyer Nemesis. He stood at the viewports of the main bridge, looking out to the green planet that dominated his view. He was a man in his upper forties, well-built and with snagged hair and well-trimmed beard going more to the silver tone now than to the dark colour of his youth. He had a perfect uniform with shiny boots and his hand rested on his back. Behind him the crew of the bridge handled their duties with low voices and without big gestures which was a sign of calm, drilled professionalism. This was a good crew and Captain Natane had worked hard to get it to its present level of performance.
Outside the transparisteel of the viewports, a squadron of TIE fighters passed on route to its patrol area. When it had cleared the Nemesis it broke up into three flights which each continued on to its dedicated area. Captain Natane sighed and could not help feeling just a slight envy to the pilots flying free out there, burning holes in space with their ion engines. He had himself never served as a fighter pilot. Instead, as a newly graduated Ensign, he had stepped into the bridge of a Venetor Class Star Destroyer, just when the Clone Wars broke out. It felt like ages ago but strangely he could still remember that very day as if it happened yesterday. Natane smiled slightly at the memory. Then, it had been an entirely different world compared with the one he now lived in. A different galaxy one might say. The war had changed everything. It was a horrible time but he confessed to himself it had taught him just about everything there was about commanding a capital ship in battle.
He was interrupted in his thoughts by the characteristic sound of an approaching protocol droid. The day they figure out a way to shut those servo engines up I'll be the first to cheer he thought.
"Excuse me Captain." the droid started. Natane turned around to see what his protocol droid V-2BE wanted and smiled when he saw what the silver plated 3PO droid was carrying. "Don´t worry tobee, you bring me just what i needed." He lifted the mug of caf from the small plate the droid was carrying, closed his eyes and smelled the hot drink inside. "Perfect, as always." he said, opened his eyes and smiled at the droid.
"Thank you Captain." the droid replied. "I do my best to please you." Natane nodded and turned once again towards the stars and tobe trotted away. The Navy had tried to make him switch for a RA-7 droid instead but it had taken him a very long time to tech toobee how to produce caf decent enough to his own high set taste. And whith the RA-7 being known to be low intelligent so... tobee had stayed.
A military career had always been the obvious choice for young Sitrod. His father and grandfather before him had both been high ranking military officers and they had pulled some strings every now and then to put him in his present position. Commander of an Imperial Star Destroyer.
"Don´t let them promote you away from that bridge now you hear?" his father had said when he came home and proudly had told him about his command.
"Your finest time in the Navy start right now you know." he had continued with a strange look in his eyes. "There is nothing like commanding a Capital Warship. And there is no ship like a Star Destroyer." Natane had followed that advice perhaps a bit too close to the letter. Twice had he been offered a promotion and twice had he refused. First, he blamed his inexperience and they had bought that. The next time he said something about other officers deserving the rank more and finally they had let him off the hook.
He was again called back from his memories when he heard someone approaching from behind. The sound of the steps told him it was Commander Saritsa Soraan, the Nemesis First Officer.
"Captain." Soraan saluted.
"Commander." nodded Natane, but he did not turn around. Instead he still faced the stars. "What exciting reports do you have for me today?" he asked. He could not see her face, but he knew she smiled when she answered.
"Main Core reactor status: normal. Space Flight Force status: normal. Crew status: normal. Main Artillery status: normal. Shall i continue?" Natane chuckled. "No, that will be fine Commander." Then he turned around and faced his first officer who also smiled when he concluded "All is under control and painfully normal." Commander Saritsa Soraan was a woman in her early thirties with her dark hair in a thick braid down her back. She was very intelligent and Natane was more than pleased with how she performed her duties. She was also very physically fit and the rumour was that she could even give the Stormtroopers a match when it came to unarmed combat. Soraan never talked about it but the Troopers did really respect her so there must be at least some small truth in it.
Captain Natane thought this was without a doubt the most meaningless mission they ever got involved with. Not meaningless, he had corrected himself, only poorly planned and with incompetent leadership. Admiral Mufid, in charge of this whole operation, wasn´t exactly a genius when it came to military operations. He had made his career on Coruscant and instead of actually dealing with the problem of raging pirates in the Sanraji system, which at least at some point had been the actual mission, the small fleet was drowning in forms that must be written in a correct fashion, reports, chain of command issues and a whole lot of other administrative nonsense.
"But how was the hull breach drill last night?" Natane asked. "Very well i would say." Soraan answered. "The Emergency Engineering Task Force was quickly on site and secured the affected sectors. This in spite of the surprises i had in store for them." The Captain nodded and Commander Soraan continued. "The reactor core and the main engines are holding within normal levels just as last week, and the week before. The Crew is on a shore leave shifting schedule to the planet below. Green squadron had its ranks filled after two losses when Green 3 and Green 6 exploded after a collision." Natane made a face at the memory of the collision. "Hmm, that wasn´t a very funny story. Flight Control still haven´t..."
The two highest ranked officers of the ship were interrupted by the Lieutenant in charge of the communications console, calling up to them from the crew pit. He looked up at them and said "Captain. You have an incoming transmission from Imperial Centre." Coruscant Captain Natane thought. He would never get used to that silly name. Commander Soraan looked at her Captain. "Imperial Centre? What could that be?" Captain Natane shrugged and said "Maybe they finally listened to your comments regarding the Navy's Cuisine?" They both chuckled and turned around to walk towards the Holo Projector in the Command Salon, just opposite the Security Foyer. When he arrived, Captain Natane gathered himself for a moment and then nodded to the Lieutenant who opened the channel. He held his gaze steady over the holo projector which at first only showed static noise but the moment after it stabilized and Commander Soraan drew a breath and stood up in attention.
In front of Captain Natane an oversized face towered showing none other than Emperor Palpatine himself. Captain Natane did not move and his face could have been carved in stone. "Your Majesty." Natane said, slightly bowing his head. "Captain Natane." the Emperor boomed with a loud voice. "You are to immediately take the Nemesis to the coordinates transmitted to you as we speak. There you will await Lord Vader and assist him in a mission of the outmost importance." "Understood." Natane answered. "Captain Natane." the Emperor said again with a voice filled with power. "Failure will not be tolerated." "Of course Your Majesty." Natane answered, again bowing his head ever so slightly. The moment after the Emperor was gone. Even though there had only been a projected image and not the Emperor himself, Commander Soraan had felt the very real threat in that last sentence and she saw now that she without knowing it had taken step back. Captain Natane on the other hand had not even as much as blinked and her respect for her Commanding Officer took a leap forward.
Natane stood still and seemed to gather his thoughts. Then he walked over to the Communications Console and asked "Lieutenant, have we received the coordinates?" The young officer nodded. "Yes Captain. It´s out in the Colonies region." The Captain nodded and stood silent again. Then he turned to his First Officer and said "Commander, start bringing back the crew according to emergency protocol yellow. Make sure our supplies are filled and all repairs are finished. We will depart in three standard hours."
"Captain?" Commander Soraan hesitated. "But the Emperors order was to depart immediately?" Natane nodded, "That´s correct Commander, but it´s a journey of five or six days and you don´t want to go and assist Lord Vader with roughly 1/4 of the Crew on shore leave?" Soraan nodded. "Right Captain, i understand." "And," Natane continued "a mission of Lord Vader can mean just about anything and can take just as long, so i need us to be as prepared as we can be. So, I'll take three hours for preparations." "Yes Captain." Soraan answered again. "Right then." Natane sighed. "I have a talk with Admiral Mufid waiting. I´m sure he´ll be happy to get us out of his way."
Commander Soraan smiled at that last remark and gave her Captain a salute when he left the bridge. She looked after him for a moment. It was extremely rare for the Emperor to contact any of his commanding officers in person, something only a handful of commanders had the honour to experience and on those rare occasions the officers outranked Captain Natane by far. Again, her respect for the Captain rose a little higher. But then she collected herself and turned to the Communications Console. "Lieutenant. The crew is immediately to return to the Nemesis. Send out the order according to emergency protocol yellow." "Yes Commander." the Lieutenant answered and started to execute the order at once. Soraan then walked over to the Helm. "Yes Commander?" the officer said when she approached. "Plot a jump to the coordinates we just received. Let me know when we are ready." "Yes sir." the officer replied, saluted and got to work. Commander Soraan nodded pleased and picked up a datapad where she took out an action plan for to make sure there was nothing on the ship that needed refilling, replacing or repairing.